Reversible sill assembly with a positive fluid drain

ABSTRACT

A reversible sill structure operable in a first position to receive closure panels from the exterior of a building wall and operable from a second position to receive closure panels from the interior of said wall selectively having a fluid drain structure which operates to direct a fluid to the exterior of the building in either position.

United States Patent [191 Paull Feb. 18, 1975 1 REVERSIBLE SILL ASSEMBLYWITH A POSITIVE FLUID DRAIN [75] Inventor: David Paull, Big Rapids,Mich.

[73] Assignee: Swiss Aluminium Ltd., Chippis,

Switzerland [22] Filed: Mar. 21, 1973 21 Appl. No.2 343,550

[52] US. Cl. 52/209, 52/309 [51] Int. Cl. H E04b l/343, EO6b 7/14 [58]Field of Search 52/302, 209, 498-502,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 426,558 4/1890 Dithridge52/729 2,018,115 10/1935 Barringer 49/476 2,963,126 12/1960 Cudini52/302 3,410,027 11/1968 Bates 52/209 3,503,169 3/1970 Johnson etal..... 52/209 3,570,182 3/1971 Bakke 52/209 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 6/1968 Great Britain 52/397 Primary ExaminerErnest R.Purser Assistant Examiner-James L. Ridgill, Jr.

Attorney, Agent, or Firm-David A. Jackson; Robert H. Bachman I [57]ABSTRACT A reversible sill structure operable in a first position toreceive closure panels from the exterior of a building wall and operablefrom a second position to receive closure panels from the interior ofsaid wall selectively having a fluid drain structure which operates todirect a fluid to the exterior of the building in either position.

1 Claim, 1 Drawing Figure INTER/OR REVERSIBLE SILL ASSEMBLY WITH APOSITIVE FLUID DRAIN BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present inventionrelates to sill structures used to support closure panels forming anintegral part of an exterior wall of a building.

Typical prior art sill structures are disclosed and described in US.Pat. No. 3,579,943, issued to Wayne C. Tam.

More particularly, the invention relates to an improvement in sillstructures.

A feature of the invention is the provision of a reversible sillstructure or assembly operable selectively to receive panels from anexterior or interior station as desired.

A further feature is the provision of a fluid drain structure whichoperates universally to direct fluids to the exterior of a building.

A further feature is the provision of a manually separable sillstructure which facilitates introduction of closure panels into thesill.

A further feature is the provision of a fluid drain system cooperatingwith said improved sill structure.

A representative embodiment of the improved sill structure embracing theprinciples of the invention may include a reversible sill assemblyoperable selectively in a first position to receive closure panels froman interior station and operable in a second position to receive closurepanels from an exterior station comprising a pair of spaced tubularmembers, an inclined web joining said tubular members operable to directfluid in a predetermined direction, one of said tubular members beingmanually separable to facilitate insertion (recep tion) of panels, saidsill being reversible or rotatable through 180 about a horizontal axisto permit panel installation from said interior or exterior stations, asdesired, said inclined web remaining operable to direct fluid in saidpredetermined direction in either of said positions.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparentfrom an examination of the LII specification when read in conjunctionwith the appended drawing in which:

The single FIGURE is a perspective view of a sill and panel arrangementillustrating a representative embodiment of the invention;

The reference numerals l0 and 11 denote closure panels of glass or othersuitable closure material supported vertically on setting blocks 12 and13 and sealed to weather by gaskets 14, 16, 17 and 18;

The sill assembly, indicated generally by the reference numerals 19, 21,and 22, includes a pair of spaced tubular members 23 and 24 joined by agenerally transverse inclined web 26.

Snapon element 27 which is detachably mounted on tubular member 24 isseparable longitudinally and manually to provide access or clearance tofacilitate panel installation.

Thus, manually separable snap-on element 27 is movable from an operableor closed position shown in solid lines to an open or separated positionshown in dotted lines (sill assembly 21) in that lateral pressureexerted upon the web 28 in the direction shown by the arrow 29 releasesfriction clip 25 to permit the snap-on element to rotate from the solidline position to the dotted line position.

In fact, snap-on element 27 is entirely removable and separable fromtubular member 24 after the friction clip 25 is released.

In the closed position, snap-on element 27 is retained frictionally bythe cooperation of lips 15 and 20 and the corresponding interlock ofmating ribs 32 and 33.

Note that setting blocks 12 and 13 are short segmental blocks and do notextend along the full length of the inclined web 26. This is so becauseweb 26 provides a conduit for directing fluid and communicates withapertures or weep holes 36, 37 and 38 to define a fluid drain systemwhich flows to the exterior of the building.

In the bottom sill assembly 19 of the single figure, the snap-on member27 is disposed on the interior of the panel 10 thereby facilitatinginsertion of the panel from within the building and the inclined web 26provides a fluid drain to the exterior of the building via weep holes 36and 38.

Observing sill assembly 21 in the center of the drawing, it is apparentthat the assembly 21 has been rotated about its horizontal axis topermit introduction of closure panels from the exterior.

In this position of the sill assembly 21, as well as the sill assembly22, the inclined web 26 remains disposed in a direction which shedsfluid to the exterior of the building through weep holes 36, 37 and 38.

As stated previously, the drain system includes the inclined web and theweep holes; it is preferred that the web 26 subtend an included angle Awith respect to the horizontal ranging from 3 to 15.

A limiting factor governing the maximum included angle subtended by theweb 26 is a function of the panel to provide necessary clearance or headspace in a vertical direction at the time of panel installation. Theclearance dimension is indicated by the letter D in sill assembly 22.

It is anticipated that a variety of modifications and design changes maybe devised in the disclosed embodiment of the improved sill assemblywithout departing from the spirit and scope of the principles of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

1. A reversible sill assembly'operable selectively in a first positionto receive closure panels from an interior station and in a secondposition to receive closure panels from an exterior station whichcomprising:

A. a pair of spaced-apart tubular members;

B. an inclined web joining said tubular members operable to direct fluidin a predetermined direction which subtends an included angle withrespect to the horizontal ranging from 3to 15;

C. a snap-on element detachably mounted on one of said tubular membersand manually separable therefrom to facilitate insertion (reception) ofpanels; and

D. a drain system consists essentially of a plurality of fluid drainholes located in both of said tubular members communicating with saidweb operable to direct fluid distally away from said web, through saidtubular members and out of said assembly; wherein said sill isreversible or rotatable through 180 about a horizontal axis to permitpanel installation from said interior or exterior stations, as desired,and said inclined web remains operable to direct fluid in saidpredetermined direction in either of said positions.

1. A reversible sill assembly operable selectively in a first positionto receive closure panels from an interior station and in a secondposition to receive closure panels from an exterior station whichcomprising: A. a pair of spaced-apart tubular members; B. an inclinedweb joining said tubular members operable to direct fluid in apredetermined direction which subtends an included angle with respect tothe horizontal ranging from 3*to 15*; C. a snap-on element detachablymounted on one of said tubular members and manually separable therefromto facilitate insertion (reception) of panels; and D. a drain systemconsists essentially of a plurality of fluid drain holes located in bothof said tubular members communicating with said web operable to directfluid distally away from said web, through said tubular members and outof said assembly; wherein said sill is reversible or rotatable through180* about a horizontal axis to permit panel installation from saidinterior or exterior stations, as desired, and said inclined web remainsoperable to direct fluid in said predetermined direction in either ofsaid positions.